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Week Five 6A Team of the Week: Odessa

by
Adam Ogburn
September 26

6A Team of the Week: Odessa Bronchos

Scheduling can be hard this time of year when you’re in one of 6A’s three six-team districts. With most teams already in district play, it creates a bit of a conundrum for the 18 schools who aren’t.

Last week, it led Odessa to make the over five hour trek down towards the San Antonio area to take on Schertz Clemens. However, the Bronchos didn’t show any signs of lethargy despite a long road trip as they edged Clemens in a 31-28 thriller.

With the game tied at 28 and just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Odessa defensive back Yobany Baeza came up with a big interception off a deflection to give the Bronchos the ball back at their own 43 yard line.

Odessa moved the ball all the way down to the Clemens two-yard line thanks in part to a 19-yard completion from quarterback Mikey Cota to Andrew Rodriguez and an 11-yard scramble by Cota. However, a personal foul committed by the Bronchos meant that they’d have to settle for a 34-yard field goal to try and win it as time expired.

#2 Mikey Cota fighting for every inch setting it for the game winning FG pic.twitter.com/dAhFKV6NBq

— Evel “Zubie” Zubiate (@EvelZubiate) September 22, 2023

Kicker Aidric Rivera delivered, winning the game in walk-off fashion. That win improved Odessa to 3-2, matching its win total from each of the last two seasons. Rivera has scored the winning point in all three of those games, converting a walk-off field goal in a 22-20 win over Americas and the go-ahead extra point in a 36-35 win over Amarillo.

And while he will be the hero, the Odessa backfield had a big game. Cota threw for 258 yards and two scores, while running back Dae Dae Green added another 206 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Odessa will now have a bye this week before facing rival Permian in a crosstown showdown on Oct. 6.